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Maxis has launched its three-in-one Hotlink Social Edition prepaid plan, which gives free unlimited access to Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.
Maxis has announced that customers using the iPhone 5, iPad mini and iPad 4 can now enjoy the speed of its 4G LTE network.
Long Term Evolution (LTE) may have come to Malaysia but the gestation period for its widespread use might take longer than mobile operators may like, writes Edwin Yapp.
Maxis has refreshed its existing Home Wireless Internet offering with a new 21Mbps Home Wi-Fi modem.
Telcos have been fined for failing to ensure proper registration of accurate user information for prepaid accounts, but what can be done about the dealers themselves?
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has issued a total of RM920,000 in fines to Celcom Axiata Berhad, Merchantrade Sdn Bhd, U Mobile Sdn Bhd, Tune Talk Sdn Bhd, Maxis Mobile Services Sdn Bhd and Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd for breaching their license conditions.
The CEO of TIME dotCom, which posted a record RM419.1 million in revenue for its 2012 fiscal year, speaks to Karamjit Singh about its outlook for 2013.
Maxis recorded revenue of RM8.967 billion for the financial year ended Dec 31 2012, 1.9% up from the RM8.8 billion in 2011, on the back of higher revenue from all business segments.
With Maxis taking a market leadership position in LTE rollout in Malaysia, it is timely to ask two questions: Will the LTE market be a handset-dominated one? And will Maxis adopt a premium positioning? Karamjit Singh explores the issue.
Maxis has launched two 4G LTE smartphones: The Nokia Lumia 920 and HTC One XL, the first two to be activated on the cellular provider’s 4G LTE (Fourth Generation Long Term Evolution) network.


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This article is more than 1 year old
All it took was a pandemic to revive PCs: Canalys proclaims sales up 25% in Q4 as world+dog stays home
The PC is dead, says no one any longer, unless it's a desktop
The do-everything-from-home revolution – work, study and play – led to a record 90.3 million personal computers being shipped into the channel in the fourth quarter of last year, up a whopping 25.4 per cent compared to the pre-pandemic final quarter of 2019.
“The industry deserves all the success that has come its way,” said a cheerleading Rushabh Doshi, Canalys research director. “We would be in a very different position had it not been for the commitment of the PC industry, including the vendors, the supply chain and the distribution channel.”
Lenovo stretched its lead at the top in the PC sales stakes to account for one in every four PCs sold worldwide, growing 29.1 per cent to 23.12 million units. Gianfranco Lanci, the Chinese conglomerate's COO, said last year he expected the total addressable PC market to expand by 30 per cent to 300 million units in 2021, due to the way the virus forced people to work and study. It look like he was right, albeit earlier than forecast.
Growing at 10 per cent – less than half the market average – HP reported Q4 shipments of 19.13 million units. The company faced it fair share of battles to secure supply enough components last year but it isn’t clear if this or some other factor played a part in the relatively muted growth.
PC makers warn of battle for air freight capacity, will have to fight for cargo space with... the COVID-19 vaccineREAD MORE
Dell held onto third spot but narrowed the gap with HP, growing 27 per cent on the back of 15.79 million shipments. This is a recovery from calendar Q3 when Dell told us it had steered clear of the lower margin kit sold in the annual back-to-school push.
Apple topped the growth charts for the quarter with a 45 per cent rise in sales to 7.18 million units and Acer was up 38.6 per cent to 6.151 million. Even the 'others' section – typically a part of the market comprised of shrinking brands – was up, growing 27 per cent to 19.92 million systems sold.
*For the whole year, Canalys logged shipments of 297 million bits of kit, up 11 per cent, which equates to the highest annual growth rates seen in a decade. This was “singlehandedly” driven by notebooks and mobile workstations, which grew 44 per cent on 2019 to 235.1 million units. On the flip side, desktop and desktop workstations fell by a fifth year-on-year to 61.9 million.
Canalys is predicting another year of healthy activity in the PC market, with Apple and Microsoft's new silicon points of interest and updates to Chrome and Windows. And the analysts reckon component shortages that dogged the industry in recent times will have mostly been dealt with by the second half of 2021.
According to Dell, another factor might come into play this year, in addition to the work and study-from-home trend that is fuelling shipments.
Matt Baker, Dell senior veep for strategy and planning told the Raymond James Tech Investor conference in December there are a generation of PCs out there that are older than four years. “That’s about 700 million of our installed base or the industry’s installed base that really needs to be refreshed.”
Dutt at Canalys said: “As the world readies itself to get vaccinated and overcome the COVID-19 virus, it is important to remember that PCs have played a vital role at every stage on this fight, from understanding the virus and synthesising the vaccine, to social monitoring and vaccine roll-out. It is going to be extremely difficult to write off the PC as some of us did a few years ago. PCs are here to stay. ®
PS: IDC says PC sales grew 26.1 per cent, year on year, in Q4 2020.

domain: news


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Clara Mercer from British Fashion Council fondly remembered planting the Chinaberry tree for the Queen’s Green Canopy, at the Chelsea Physic Garden earlier this year.
Marnie Gaffney of Queen’s Green Canopy, the campaign to plan trees across the country for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee, spoke of the results so far – over a million trees planted all over the United Kingdom. Marnie asked the audience to support the campaign further as the planting season recommences in September 2022, as schools, community groups and urban areas receive trees from partners like the Woodland Trust, and Trees for Cities. Bags of Ethics is an official supporter of the Queen’s Green Canopy and has produced merchandise for the support of the cause which includes a picnic blanket from sustainably farmed cotton, a cooler bag, a reusable bottle, reusable jute bag and tea caddies. The collection is available to purchase here, and also at the Royal Collection Trust, John Lewis, Waitrose, and Harrods.


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The prototype is classified a light electric vehicle (LEV)
This vehicle would be the first EV to mine cryptocurrency
The company is based in Ontario and the unveiling will take place at York University
Daymark is a manufacturer of light electric vehicles (LEVs) that will unveil a new prototype of an electric three-wheeled car on December 17 in Toronto.
This new vehicle, called the Spiritus, will be the fastest three-wheeler and the first electric vehicle to mine cryptocurrency in the world.
This will be the first prototype made and five others will follow to be used to fine tune the final design.
The event will be held at the York University and the company will invite the press, investors and potential partners to showcase the prototype in order to generate their interest and in the hopes of finding companies in the battery field that would like to work with them.
The company will take the opportunity to make announcement concerning its future during the launch. Notably, Daymark employed Gabriel Losif, an automotive engineering specialist with over 25 years of experience in the domain. His expertise will be a great help to the company since he previously worked on electric vehicles and racing cars and was previously employed by prestigious companies such as Bugatti and Ferrari.
Daymark will also explain in further detail the workings of its Nebula cryptocurrency suite that will be included in the Spiritus.
The company wants to build 50,000 units of the Spiritus three-wheeler in the next few years in a new 425,000 square foot factory in Ontario whose blueprints are currently being finalised. This manufacturing project would create hundreds of jobs in the province.
The Spiritus is the first product of the company’s Avvenire line of electric vehicles and it will launch to the public in 2023.


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Microsoft's Xbox Games with Gold offerings for February are nearing their end, which means we get to see what free titles Microsoft has for Xbox Live subscribers for the month of March.
...of Microsoft money, ARM's acquisition, and Windows 10 updates
Samsung Galaxy S7 edge Lens Cover
Expanding mobile photography with Aukey's wide-angle lenses
JESBOD QY13 sports Bluetooth earphones
Time is running out to claim your free Windows 10 upgrade
windows 10 upgrade
Insider build 14393.3 for PC and Mobile released to Fast ring
Microsoft will launch a new Xbox 360 bundle later in March that includes the 250GB version of the console, one month of free Xbox Live Gold service and two free games: Borderlands 2 and Forza Horizon.
Sony has announced the PlayStation 4 console is still "generally sold out at all retailers" and that the new thinner PS Vita model will finally be released in the U.S. this spring.
Gearbox Software will release the DLC pack Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty for the recent FPS Borderlands 2 on October 16th for $9.99, following this week's release of the Mechromancer class.
The fifth playable character in Borderlands 2, Gaige the Mechromancer, is now available to download from Steam; either for $9.99 or free with the Premiere Club edition
A couple of weeks ago Borderlands 2 was released; I got a copy on my PC, played it, an enjoyed it a lot. Here's some quick thoughts on the game after I completed the majority of it.
Borderlands 2 builds on the foundation laid three years ago, delivering new characters, more weapons, smarter foes, and the same addictive gameplay. We put it to the test on today's finest hardware.
People who purchase the upcoming first person shooter-RPG sequel Borderlands 2 will soon be able to sign up for a "Season Pass" to get all of the game's planned DLC content at a lower price.
Gearbox Software has launched a web browser version of its hit action game Borderlands, but in its "original" 1989 16 bit-version that's titled "The Border Lands."
Gearbox Software has completed work on Borderlands 2 but the team is now working on the Mechromancer character class DLC pack for the first person shooter-RPG sequel.
Excited enough for Borderlands 2 yet? Well the latest "Wimoweh" trailer has plenty of fun, Borderlands-style action to keep your mouth watering until it hits stores on September 18th
Gearbox Software won't release a mod SDK for the PC version of Borderlands 2. However, Gearbox still wants creators to go ahead and make mods for the game anyway.
If you have managed to keep your save files in Borderlands, you will be able to unlock some exclusive character heads and skins for the upcoming sequel, Borderlands 2.
We offer up our picks for the games we most want to see and play in Los Angeles as we start up our E3 2012 coverage, including Halo 4, Elder Scrolls Online and more.
Gearbox Software has announced it will release two special editions of its upcoming first person shooter-RPG hybrid sequel Borderlands 2 when it is released this fall.
Once upon a time, it was the PC gamers who scoffed at 'inferior' console ports, but the tables have turned, according to Borderlands 2's lead designer, who says that consoles now dictate the PC.
In today's gaming news round-up we find out about a big upcoming firmware update for the Playstation 3, a casting call for a live actor for Borderlands 2, more sales numbers for Battlefield 3 and more
Developer Gearbox Software and publisher 2K Games have finally announced plans to release Borderlands 2, the sequel to the successful 2009 sci-fi shooter-RPG hybrid game.


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Windows 11 Top Features : Since Windows 10 was announced, Windows 11 has finally been released. We have gathered a few things so far about the software since it was just announced online.
Start menus are usually found on the bottom edge of the screen.
The taskbar in Windows 11 has a menu and a button positioned in the middle like in macOS.
Instead, it is now more like an Android launcher that you would see on an Android device, rather than a live tile.
We have seen some images and videos of the update, and it does appear pretty and snappy.
There were a lot of people using conferencing apps during the pandemic. The Microsoft Teams tool has been instrumental in Microsoft’s response to the craze of Zoom. The software is now integrated with Windows 11. Despite complaints about the performance of its entry-level devices, we are not sure whether the company has adapted this product to become less resource-intensive.
How is Skype doing now?
Windows 11 also includes widgets from Microsoft. The user does not have to manually place them, because they’re personalized and created by AI. Widgets can be accessed on the OS’s left, and they can be expanded to fill the screen.
Microsoft says that Windows 11 will now work on tablets without any further adjustment. With it, gesture controls are improved and an emoji keyboard with GIFs and emojis is available. A stylus is now supported.
Following Intel and Amazon’s partnership, Windows 11 also runs Android apps natively. Through the revamped Windows Store, users will be able to access the Amazon App Store and run the apps through Intel Bridge.
Are you aware of the free upgrade to Windows 10 that Windows 7 users received? Users of Windows 10 are also experiencing the same issue.
The following minimum specifications must be met by your PC:
Updates will be distributed through Windows Update in the same way that Windows 10 was. Please remember that it is necessary to have a Microsoft account in order to upgrade this time.


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Aim-traded Bango (BGO:125p), a provider of a state-of-the-art mobile payment platform enabling smartphone users to charge purchases made in app stores straight to their mobile phone account, has signed a significant, multi-year platform agreement with a major global telecoms provider.
This is quite some endorsement of Bango’s technology and it could be the first of many. That’s because demand for streaming services has surged during the global lockdown and major telecom operators are trying to capitalise on this trend by delivering a wide range of third-party products and services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, and then market them effectively to their customers in a most efficient and cost effective way.
Under the three-year agreement, the telecoms provider will deliver a range of third-party products and services to its customers through the Bango Platform and will also benefit from Bango data insights to optimize the targeting of product offers. The award is worth at least £1.5m to Bango, and there is a further opportunity to earn additional revenues by upscaling the offering.


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India’s start-up ecosystem is beginning to show signs of scaling up, with the addition of seven new unicorns as of August 2019. This takes the total number of start-ups with a valuation of over $1 billion to 24, which is the third largest number of unicorns in a single country in the world.
According to a new report by Nasscom, titled ‘Indian Tech Start-up Ecosystem - Leading Tech in the 20s’, over 1,300 start-ups were added in 2019, reinforcing India’s position as a leading start-up ecosystem. This takes the total number of tech start-ups from 8,900 to 9,300 in the last five years.
According to the report, investment in start-ups was steady at $4.4 billion in January- September 2019 across 450 start-ups, at a 5 per cent year-on-year growth. Funding saw a huge spike at the early stages (Series A, B) as well with $1.6-billion investment being recorded at 70 per cent y-o-y growth.
The big trend witnessed over the year is that start-ups are focussing more on the B2B space and almost half of them offer enterprise-focussed services. The initial lot of start-ups was focussed on consumers and based on the heavy discounting model. The other major shift is there has been a rapid growth in the number of deep-technology start-ups.
Deep-tech companies are built on tangible scientific discoveries or engineering innovations to solve real-life problems. Entrepreneurs are now focussing on creating solutions using deep-tech such as artificial intelligence, analytics, augmened and virtual reality, blockchain and internet of things.
Over 18 per cent of all start-ups are now leveraging deep-tech, which means there are over 1,600 such companies in India; in 2014, only 8 per cent were working with this technology. As a result of these changes, there are also over 50 potential unicorns at present in the country.
Debjani Ghosh, Nasscom President, said: “The start-up landscape in the country is becoming the epitome of innovation, with companies bringing out solutions that are aimed at solving locally relevant issues. However, to simulate innovation, governments and corporates need to focus on increasing their roles as prominent stakeholders playing the part of venture capitalists and providing the appropriate market access, funding, and guidance to seed stage start-ups.”
There is no dearth of initial funding, though.
The country has over 335 active incubators and accelerators with a capacity to enable over 5,000 start-ups every year.
More than 65 per cent share of the incubators and accelerators were added in the last five years, of which 57 per cent are active outside tier-1 cities. The start-up ecosystem of India, at a cumulative valuation of $ 95-101 billion, has created 390,000-430,000 direct jobs with over 60,000 jobs in 2019 alone.


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here's a lot of speculation today about why Facebook would spend $1 billion to acquire the uber-hip photo-sharing app Instagram.
To some, it seems obvious; to others, it's the biggest sign yet of a growing Web bubble. To me, it just raises question after question, and the biggest one is "why." What does Facebook gain from buying Instagram?
Users: Instagram has 30 million users and a potentially huge influx of more, thanks to its recent expansion onto the Android platform. Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom says he thinks Instagram should easily reach 100 million user - that's significant engagement, for sure.
But Facebook doesn't need users. Facebook has users - some 850 million of them.....
Read More @ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-574117.....but-for-what/


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3-D printing has been hailed as the next big thing for awhile now, but actually being able to take advantage of the technology has been out of reach for most—until now. E-commerce giant Amazon has just launched a 3-D printing marketplace with more than 200 print-on-demand items, many of which are easy to customize. Everything from jewelry to bobbleheads to home decor will retail for between $25 to $100.
Still confused on what the printing method actually is? Basically, 3-D printers use a range of materials like plastic and metal to create various types of objects. Because these printers can often cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, access to what they produce has been, up until now, pretty exclusive. In Amazon’s case, they’ll do the work for you with their 3-D machinery, so all you have to do is place an order.
Some of the highlights of Amazon’s offerings include a $45 knotty ring from Mixee Labs, 3-D printed in bronze-infused stainless steel (you are able to customize the color of the metal and the thickness and size of the band), a 3-D printed wax seal for $42, and a customizable bobblehead for $29.99 (yes, you can now easily buy a bobblehead with your own face on it).
Petra Schindler-Carter, Director of Amazon Marketplace Sales, told Women’s Wear Daily that the technology could particularly be a boon for emerging jewelry designers. “You get some of these independent jewelry designers who are awesome at their craft, but it is an investment to produce these products,” Schindler-Carter said. “3-D printing is a great way for them to…iterate fast and find a success fast.”
Are you eager to own something that has been 3-D printed? Share your thoughts in the comments below!


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The Co-op has become the latest major UK supermarket to begin selling both reusable and disposable face masks in its stores.
The supermarket’s entire 2600 store estate will now sell non-medical grade face masks as the government prepares to make them mandatory for public transport next week.
The re-usable masks, which can reportedly be worn up to 20 times and are machine washable, will cost £3 each, while a pack of five disposable masks costs £3 also.
Like its rival Aldi, which also began selling face masks in its stores this week, Co-op stressed that these were non-medical in a bid to free up PPE for frontline workers.
“We know it’s important to reserve valuable PPE for health and care workers so these are not suitable for medical use but have been designed with customers in mind and are just one way we can be careful, along with social distancing and washing our hands,” a spokesperson said.
While reusable face masks have been available from online retailers like Asos and marketplace Etsy for some time, supermarkets have until now been largely reluctant to stock them over fears of depriving NHS staff of the equipment, which has been in short supply since the outbreak began.
However, most major supermarkets are now expected to begin selling masks by the end of the month as they prepare for social distancing measures to continue long after lockdown subsides.
Non-essential retailers are due to open on Monday, and while it is “recommended” that shoppers wear masks in enclosed public spaces, it has not yet been made mandatory as it has in other countries.


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Despite facing several setbacks from the Trump administration, Huawei seems to be uninterested in leaving the smartphone space. In fact, the Chinese tech giant is all set to introduce Huawei P40 series, which is a successor to the last year’s P30, in the market on March 26.
There are five different smartphones in the Huawei P40 lineup — Huawei P40, Huawei P40 Pro, P40 Pro Premium, P40 Lite, P40 Lite E. And according to renowned tipster Evan Blass, the P40, P40 Pro will be available in six color options — Silver, Grey, Orange (or Gold), Black, Blue, and Aurora. The P40 Pro Premium, on the other hand, will be available in either Black or White.
As you can see in the above image, the P40 lineup will be rocking an identical rectangular camera module. However, if you take a close look at the camera lenses in the camera module, we’ll spot some differences. The P40 will feature three rear cameras, while the P40 Pro and P40 Pro Premium will offer four and five rear cameras respectively — now you know which is which!
Talking about cameras in Huawei P40 Pro, it will use a 52-megapixel lens (IMX700, 1/1.28-inch RYYB) + ??40-megapixel lens (IMX650 1/1.5-inch, RGGB) + telephoto lens + periscope Type lens and ToF. Other camera features include a 10x lossless zoom, color temperature sensor and LED flash.
The p40 Pro is also rumored to be powered by Kirin 990 5G SOC and will feature a dual punch-hole display that has a resolution of 3160×1440 and a pixel value of 518ppi. We’ll know more about these Huawei flagship phones on March 26.
via GSMArena; Sparrowsnews


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Vote Now For Your Favorite Designer
Let your fashion voice be heard! The Council of Fashion Designers of America just announced they will give out a Popular Vote trophy at their annual awards ceremony on June 15th. Pick your favorite from a list of 100 designers, including veterans like Diane Von Furstenberg and up-and-comers like Michelle Obama-favorite, Jason Wu.
Vote now through June 9th and you could win two tickets to a show during New York Fashion Week.


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Why Protecting Supply Chains Should Matter To Everyone
Enhancing the security of our global networks helps makes supply chains more resilient and agile, particularly in the face of future disruption.
But against the volatile backdrop of a pandemic, the worldwide toilet paper drought of early 2020 raised eyebrows globally. And in 2021, the blockage of the Suez Canal by the container ship Ever Given caused global supply chain bottlenecks, with an estimated $9.6 billion worth of goods prevented from being delivered each day. Global headlines like these gave many of us a first-hand glimpse into how supply chain issues can cause chaos in unexpected ways.
Shortages created nascent community awareness that the resilience of our supply chains must be closely protected and constantly improved. More importantly, they revealed why it’s in our shared global interest to for governments, industry and communities invest in protecting the network.
However, critical supply chain gaps continue to be an issue globally, raising questions around resilience and a lack of digital competencies. Fortunately, these developments indicate the beginnings of a critical paradigm shift. Traditionally relegated to support status, the supply chain is starting to be perceived by retailers and manufacturers as a strategic tool for business growth and performance. The supply chain has begun moving from cost centre to opportunity centre.
What can go wrong
Our modern lifestyles mean the global community has an increasing reliance on both domestic and international shipping. Supply chains make our everyday lives possible. Because of them, tea from India and fresh avocados from farms in Australia are delivered to our corner cafe for Sunday brunch. Supply chains deliver smartphones from China to the UK, feeding our thirst for tech and making our weekly video calls with mum possible. They distribute life-saving insulin doses from pharmaceutical manufacturers to people with diabetes across continents.
When it comes to the security of our supply chains, there are many issues for us to be vigilant against. Theft could see millions of dollars’ worth of goods go missing annually. Any shipment can be targeted – from wine and craft beer to organic beauty products.
Misuse of the network for highly criminal activity such as trafficking of drugs, exotic animals or weapons is also an unfortunate reality and can happen in any country.
Protecting the supply chain
Fortunately, governments and industry leaders are taking substantial steps towards strengthening the resilience and security of the world’s supply chains. For instance, at the beginning of the pandemic, Australia’s Federal Budget 2020 saw the announcement of the AUD107.2 million Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to ensure Australia was on the front foot when handling potential issues and disruptions to the network. New security measures were introduced by the Australian government to further strengthen the nation’s domestic air cargo operations.
These initiatives are just some of the enhancements from government and industry globally to ensure the world’s supply chain security and capabilities continue to go from strength to strength. Many of these build on measures already in place that are typically employed by multinational supply chain organisations like FedEx.
For example, many supply chain professionals should employ audit processes to identify and nip potential threats in the bud. Established logistics companies have robust processes that incorporate pre-emptive examinations and plans for security.
The engineering principle of redundancy – or duplicating critical functions within a system to increase the system’s overall reliability – applies to security in logistics. Supply chain professionals understand that layering security measures multiplies effectiveness and results in more than the sum of its parts. As an example, FedEx might use tamper-evident security seals while also x-raying each individual box in a shipment and securing the aircraft door, cargo container and individual units separately.
A culture of safety requires investment
Some of the above measures add to the time and cost of shipping goods within the network. However, the pandemic taught us some important long-lasting lessons. There are no two ways about it: building a secure and resilient network requires strong community, national and international investment.
We are all fundamentally reliant on the supply chains around us. With this in mind, we must foster awareness about why a culture of safety throughout our supply chains is critical, more so in this dynamic online environment. If we continue to improve the security of the world’s supply chain infrastructure, everyone wins.
For more information on how to keep your shipments safe, contact us here.
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Google Camera Go is an ultimate solution for better photography with budget smartphones. Launched with Nokia 1.3 earlier this year, Google Camera Go comes pre-installed in the phone as a default camera app. The Camera Go allows users to take advantage of some of Google's AI photography tricks while using minimum phone's resources.
Google Camera Go already comes with plenty of options like Portrait Mode and other effects, and now, the company is all set to add a dedicated Night Mode for shooting in low-light conditions. Google says, "Camera Go users with these devices will now be able to take higher quality pictures with brighter and more accurate colours even in low light environments like dimly-lit indoor spaces or outdoors at night."
What's even impressive about this new addition is that the Night Mode has been optimized for devices shipping with 1GB of RAM or lower. So basically, the Camera Go app has been designed for low-end hardware to give photography results that are as good as any other photos. Though the pictures clicked by the Google Camera Go cannot match the results produced by Pixel Night Sight mode but still, the photos are par excellence.
As Google explains, "The Night Mode feature can also automatically capture simultaneous shots and merge them to produce clearer low-light photos. Users can enable the new feature as an alternative to flash mode when flash is not suitable, and still take great photos without the need to adjust camera settings."
Google Camera Go update for the Night Mode will first roll out to Nokia 1.3 smartphones. All the Nokia 1.3 owners in 27 countries will be able to update their Camera Go app via Google Play Store. For the rest of the Android Go devices, the feature will be released over the coming months.


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On this week’s Extra Serving podcast, Caitlin Leibert, director of sustainability for Chipotle Mexican Grill, shares how the Newport Beach, Calif.-based chain cut the average waste per restaurant by 25% since 2016, a move that also saved the company $1.3 million.
With the goal of diverting 50% of its waste from landfills by 2020, Chipotle has developed a system it calls the “waste matrix,” developed in part to determine what garbage was being produced by units where landlords controlled waste management.
“If we want to own our impact, you’ve got to know your impact,” said Leibert. “For us it was about transparency. What do our restaurants produce?”
In this episode, Leibert tells NRN senior editor Lisa Jennings how the chain literally went through its dumpsters to develop a data set tied to transactions that has been dubbed the waste matrix.
And, with a better picture of how much waste is produced, Chipotle was able to “rightsize” how it handles that waste with an eye toward sending less of it to landfills.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout


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Diet Coke prepares 30th anniversary campaign
Diet Coke is putting its 30th birthday at the centre of its UK marketing plans for 2013, as the brand looks to engage with its core female target audience in the aftermath of the Olympic Games.
The brand, which was launched in the UK in 1983, will continue to target female consumers through activity based on the ‘empowerment of women’.
Zoe Howorth, market activation director for Coca-Cola Great Britain, said: ‘Women are always at the heart of our Diet Coke plans and we are currently looking at how we continue to celebrate the role of women and our Diet Coke-drinkers in 2013.’
Fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier is Diet Coke’s creative director and has contributed to design and advertising activity. It has not been confirmed whether the partnership with Gaultier will continue next year.
In the US, where the drink launched in 1982, celebrations have already started. Experiential activity involves guerrilla gangs of brand ambassadors throwing 30-second street parties for Diet Coke drinkers.Follow @loullamae_es
This article was first published on marketingmagazine.co.uk
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The iPhone 14 is one of the most eagerly anticipated phone launches of the year. And as has been the case for essentially every iPhone announcement, and a new look seems to confirm our suspicions for Apple's September 2022 event.
The ever-vigilant Apple observer, Mark Gurman, has revealed in a recent Bloomberg article that his sources point to September 7 as the date for the iPhone 14 launch event.
That aligns perfectly with what we've been saying for months since the iPhone has only fallen outside of the September 7-12 window once in the last several years and that was due to Covid-19-related delays in 2020. Apple is on track again this year and as you know if you've been following along with our iPhone 14 coverage, there may be quite a few changes for this year's iPhone lineup.
Peruse our iPhone 14 rumor hub above for a complete look at what we know about the phone so far. However, the biggest changes include the loss of the mini iPhone, the introduction of a new iPhone 14 Max and considerable changes to the iPhone 14 Pro. The Pro models are rumored to add an always-on display, an upgraded camera, a new 4nm A16 Bionic processor and may eliminate the notch.
That's a compelling list of upgrades to get users to skip the iPhone 14 for the Pro. However, the most affordable big iPhone ever in the iPhone 14 Max seems like the odds-on favorite to lead sales for this generation of iPhones.
What else will be announced at the Apple September event?
While the iPhone is obviously the main event, the Apple Watch Series 8 is a lock to arrive alongside it on September 7. Apple's upgraded wearable may get the squared off redesign that was rumored prior to last year's launch, but the big news is likely to be the addition of an Apple Watch Series 8 Pro that offers a larger display and more rugged build than the traditional Apple Watch.
When will you be able to buy the iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8?
Apple typically opens up its pre-order system on the Friday following its event, so you should be able to place an order starting on September 9 if this leak proves correct. That iPhone 14 and Apple Watch Series 8 will likely ship and be available for purchase in retail stores on September 16.
With less than a month to go the leaks and rumors on all things iPhone and Apple Watch are going to keep coming so stay tuned to our coverage for all of the latest.
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Sean Riley has been covering tech professionally for over a decade now. Most of that time was as a freelancer covering varied topics including phones, wearables, tablets, smart home devices, laptops, AR, VR, mobile payments, fintech, and more. Sean is the resident mobile expert at Laptop Mag, specializing in phones and wearables, you'll find plenty of news, reviews, how-to, and opinion pieces on these subjects from him here. But Laptop Mag has also proven a perfect fit for that broad range of interests with reviews and news on the latest laptops, VR games, and computer accessories along with coverage on everything from NFTs to cybersecurity and more.


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This post has been updated with the Top 85 foreign models.
The South Korean new car market gains a relatively solid 5.2% year-on-year in August to 145.542 units, once again helped by very healthy sales by foreign manufacturers up 9.5% to 13.2% share while local marques advance slower at +4.5% to 126.336. The picture isn’t as stark as YTD though where local brands actually drop -0.6% to 1.022.366 and it’s foreigners up 16.7% to 180.133 that are solely responsible for the market 1.6% uptick to 1.202.499 units. Hyundai (+1%) continues to underperform due to the transfer of some Hyundai Genesis sales into the Genesis brand but remains at an ultra-dominant 37.4% share vs. 36% so far in 2018. Sister brand Kia (+8%) fares better at 30.4% vs. 29.8% as does Ssangyong (+10%) bolstered by a handful of reimagined nameplates.
Renault Samsung (+2%) posts its first year-on-year gain in 13 months (since July 2017) after falling by the double-digits during 10 of the past 12 months, at its worst at -46% last October. GM Korea (-26%) can’t say the same, enduring an 18th consecutive double-digit drop. Genesis (+358%) is back to #6 overall for the first time since last January, meaning it outsells all luxury foreigners such as Mercedes (-43%), BMW (-42%) and Audi (#9) continuing its recovery alongside VW (#10) after being sidestepped by the Korean government over unlawful emissions. Porsche (+512%), Jaguar (+113%), Land Rover (+76%), Rolls-Royce (+71%), Cadillac (+59%), Volvo (+50%), Honda (+34%) and Ford/Lincoln (+32%) also have a big smile on their faces.
Model-wise, the Hyundai Santa Fe (+121%) is the most popular nameplate at home for the 6th month in a row thanks to the new generation, a feat the nameplate hadn’t managed in almost 15 years and even perhaps ever, as it is unclear how many months the Santa Fe spent at #1 in 2014 which is the only year it ended at #1. However because the previous generation had such low scores during the first two months of 2018, the Santa Fe still isn’t #1 YTD, an honour that still goes to the Hyundai Grandeur (+9%) with a 4.500-unit advantage. The Hyundai Avante (+9%) returns to the podium ahead of the Kia Carnival (+32%) while the remainder of the Top 10 is in negative except the Hyundai Tucson (+0.3%) up 9 spots on July thanks to a mid-cycle facelift. The Hyundai Veloster (+5575%), Kia K9 (+1464%), Chevrolet Bolt (+1032%), Kia Niro (+92%), Ssangyong Korando Sports (+86%), Kia Ray (+76%), Samsung QM6 (+75%), Kia K5 (+47%) and Kia Sportage (+34%) also make waves.
Previous month: South Korea July 2018: Santa Fe, foreigners pull market up 4.1%
One year ago: South Korea August 2017: Hyundai Kona in Top 10
Full August 2018 Top 30 brands, Top 60 local models and Top 85 models below.


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There is a shortage of baby food nationwide in America, and consumers feel its brunt now. On Wednesday, May 18, the House of Representatives passed bills that addressed the shortage. If approved by the Senate, these bills will provide an emergency relief fund of 28 million dollars so that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can start to fix the problem correctly.
The shortage has been a storm brewing for many months now, but it only worsened when the FDA recalled Abbott's Nutrition and baby food products and closed its Michigan food plant in February. The closing came after investigators found that formula that contained the bacteria Cronobacter sakazakii was the cause of illness in 4 babies, ultimately the death of two of them.
Abbott has made a different claim on their Twitter page that their formula was not tainted with the strain of bacteria that caused the death of two infants. The bacteria were only found in non-product contact areas of the facility. The "CDC concluded its investigation with no findings of a link between our formulas and infant illnesses."
Later on, on May 16, Abbott made another statement reassuring people that they are not discontinuing Similac Pro-Total and increasing production by running their facilities at maximum capacity.
The cause of this storage was mainly due to the shortage of workers during the pandemic and supply chain issues. The most sought product is formulas which have been in high demand in the past few months. According to an NRF 2020 report, 13 percent of store stolen items are baby formula.
Manufacturers have been unable to meet these demands, which has caused parents to take desperate measures such as going across the country to find formulas and even stealing. Black markets and the manufacturing of fraudulent baby food have caused more problems for the FDA, warning people to be wary of scammers online.
Many people have been sharing their ideas online on remedying this situation. Some of this advice hasn't been received warmly. Actress Bette Midler recently came under fire for her tone-deaf comments regarding the issue.
In a Twitter statement, she wrote, "Try Breastfeeding. It's free and available on-demand". Many people have tried to remind Midler that not all women can produce breast milk, and those who do may not make enough of it. She has since apologized for her comments.
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Advanced Micro Devices has plans for new PC and graphics offerings that will help the chip maker take advantage of what officials say are encouraging signs in the technology industry for later this year and into 2010.
Speaking at the Citi Investment Global Technology Conference in New York City Sept. 9, AMD President and CEO Dirk Meyer said that the feedback he is getting from customers regarding near-term purchases has been positive, giving him hope that the company and the rest of the industry is moving away from the economic disaster that was the first half of 2009.
“We’re encouraged by the way the market is moving forward,” Meyer said of the PC market during a half-hour question-and-answer presentation. “We’re getting a more positive world view from our customers.”
He said new offerings that AMD has planned for the last few months of 2009 will let it take advantage of any upticks in the market.
For example, AMD is preparing the release of its “Congo” offering, its second-generation platform release for the ultrathin notebook market. The first generation, dubbed “Yukon,” was offered exclusively through Hewlett-Packard, Meyer said. However, Congo will be offered through other OEMs as well, and already AMD has more than 20 design wins from other systems makers.
He also talked about “Istanbul,” AMD’s six-core Opteron server processor that he said is gaining traction in two parts of the market-among systems with four sockets and in high-density, cloud computing environments. AMD on Aug. 31 introduced the 40-watt EE version of Istanbul, to go along with the 75- and 55-watt models.
Next year, AMD is planning the launch of 12-core Opterons, dubbed “Magny-Cours,” which also will feature improved memory capabilities and HyperTransport features, Meyer said. Magny-Cours will help AMD leapfrog Intel, which currently offers the six-core “Dunnington” Xeons, but this fall will roll out the eight-core “Nehalem EX” processors for systems with four or more sockets.
Intel in March launched the quad-core Xeon 5500 Series “Nehalem EP” chips for one- or two-socket servers.
AMD next year also will offer DDR 3 memory. Officials have said they are sticking with DDR 2 for now because of the high cost of DDR 3.
Meyer said he also is encouraged by AMD’s growth in the graphics business. Three years after buying graphics processing unit vendor ATI for $5.4 billion, AMD in May announced it was merging its CPU and GPU businesses. The company is also working toward the release of its DX11 graphics cards.
While he downplayed the aggressive push by rival Nvidia to make GPUs more attractive to most general-purpose computing workloads, Meyer did say that there are workloads that can be moved to GPUs, which are more energy-efficient than CPUs and which can put more processing cores on each chip.
That also is a key distinction from Intel, which Meyer said wants to keep workloads primarily on CPUs.
Goal: Bringing AMD Back to Profitability
Speaking of the company in general, Meyer said his goal is still to bring the AMD back to profitability and that there are a number of factors in play that can help him do that.
One is the decision to spin off its manufacturing operations, resulting in the Globalfoundries, which is a joint venture with Abu Dhabi-owned ATIC (Advanced Technology Investment Co.). That business got a boost Sept. 8 when ATIC announced that Globalfoundries is buying Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing for $1.8 billion.
The move drove up AMD’s stock price by more than 15 percent and holds out the promise that Globalfoundries will grow its customer base. Currently, AMD is Globalfoundries’ primary customer, and more customers coming in will mean that AMD’s financial commitment to the company will lessen, Meyer said.
The deal is a good one for both ATIC and Globalfoundries, he said, adding that it won’t impact the chip-licensing agreement AMD has with rival Intel. Globalfoundries and Chartered will remain separate entities, though ATIC officials talked about taking advantage of the technologies of both companies.
Intel officials have questioned whether AMD spinning off its manufacturing business and its joint agreement with ATIC would impact the agreement, which allows both companies to build products based on the x86 architecture.
Some in the audience questioned whether Meyer was being overly optimistic about his goals for AMD’s business, particularly given its recent poor financial results. AMD in July announced that it lost $330 million in the second quarter.
Meyer said AMD will have a better idea of the overall picture for the year after the third-quarter numbers are in, and that he sees opportunities in such areas as midrange and high-end PCs, where he says AMD is underserved.
He also talked about the company’s move to a 32-nanometer manufacturing process.


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Gucci Mane was recently gifted a piece of jewelry worth approximately $2.5 million USD. The gift came from his wife Keyshia Ka’Oir, who put together a massive chain and pendant for a hefty necklace that’s been named “Ice Daddy.”
The name of the piece was named after the couple’s newborn son Ice Davis and can be seen boldly encrusted on the face of the pendant. Gucci Mane showed off the shiny gift in a video on Instagram, panning slowly to demonstrate how the Cuban Link chain and pendant glimmer at different angles. Mane’s caption reads, “My wife got me the biggest Cuban and best charm ever #ICEDADDY @keyshiakaoir.” But the necklace also came with a bracelet. According to sources, the three-piece set was made by Pristine Jewelers in New York City and features 540 carats of diamonds with an estimated weight of 22 pounds — the chain itself measures at roughly 32 inches long and two and a half inches wide. If Mane’s caption is accurate, this piece would be the largest Cuban link ever made.
Scroll below for a look at Gucci Mane’s newly gifted jewelry.
If you liked Gucci Mane’s gift, you might want to check out Drake’s gifts to DJ Khaled.


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British supermarket chain Waitrose has committed to removing bags for all its online deliveries and in-store collections from 27 September.
Waitrose’s decision comes as the supermarket reintroduces its into-home delivery service, which allows delivery drivers to help customers with heavy lifting and unpacking.
In addition, customers can bring their shopping into the home on crates provided to them or ask the driver for help.
This initiative is expected to remove around 40 million plastic bags a year from Waitrose’s operations.
The retailer also plans to remove 10p ‘bags for life’ from all its core stores after extensive research into their use by consumers.
Waitrose executive director James Bailey said: “We’ve long pledged to reduce single-use plastics, so we have a clear obligation to remove our bags for life because they are no longer being reused as originally intended.
“While our new bag is more durable and fully recyclable, it is available as a last resort only and for customers with no other option.
“We do not want anyone to buy our new bags and instead would urge all our customers to bring ones they already have stocked away in cupboards at home as this is the best thing for the environment.”
Waitrose plans to introduce a reusable alternative to the bags, made from recycled materials.
The new bags are said to be twice as durable and completely recyclable. They will be made available for 50p each.
In June, Waitrose pledged to use more Prevented Ocean Plastic (POP) in its own-label packaging as part of its commitments to sustainability.
The retailer aims to reuse plastic packaging that is discarded at high-risk coastal areas before it ends up in the ocean.
POP packaging is produced by Bantam Materials International and supplied to Waitrose by its suppliers, including Sharpak Aylesham, Berry Gardens and M&H Plastics.


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Nonna-style pizzeria Slice is coming back to Stevenson Square
After three years away from the Northern Quarter, Slice has made its long-awaited return to Stevenson Square
It was a Stevenson Square stalwart for years, until 2019, that is, when Slice closed its doors for a short refurbishment – never to reopen again.
Despite initial promises to return the following spring, with the shutters down and the late-night hatch firmly locked, many debated whether it had vanished for good.
Thankfully that wasn’t the case, and in 2021 bosses managed to find a new home for their popular rectangular pizza slices – this time serving out of another hatch over at Oxford Road train station.
Fast forward another year, and it’s finally back where it belongs. The Roma-style pizza favourite is finally making its long-awaited return to Stevenson Square as it takes up a new residency inside Arlo’s deli and wine bar.
Moving in just round the corner from its original location, here pizza fans can once again enjoy their famous crispy-based slices once again alongside pizza bianca (crunchy white cheese-topped Roma-style focaccia).
As ever, ordera are done on a by-the-slice basis – with choices including the famous broccoli sausage, as well as margherita and vegan rustica (vegan mozzarella, vegan pesto genovese, rustica semi-dried tomatoes and rocket).
As for the pizza bianca, or white pizza, topping choices include mortadella with pistachio, mozzarella and rocket; porchetta di montagna, mozzarella and rocket; and vine tomato, mozzarella, rocket and pesto genovese.
Slice will serve from 12pm- 8pm daily inside Arlo’s, which is open seven days a week.
Feature image – Supplied


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The 2 Series Coupé will be produced exclusively in Mexico for the global market. The plant has seen further investments of $125 million over the last 2 years, which has expanded its operations significantly.
Lightweighting has become one of the most important features when it comes to designing EVs. As calls for more sustainable production practices become louder, creators are looking at new innovative ways to lighten the load.
This livestream investigates how designers and engineers at Ford, Gestamp and key suppliers are using innovative materials and creating lightweight architectures, including for models like the Ford F-150 Lightning and Maverick compact truck.
The speed of change in the technology of cars and rapid electrification requires new manufacturing equipment and is making expensive old machines redundant, but exactly where the industry is going next is hard to predict. More flexible manufacturing is the answer.
For the production of the new C-class, Mercedes has taken the opportunity to add flexibility by way of cellular manufacturing in the body shop and with so-called ‘TecLines’ for assembly.
Thyssenkrupp has launched Automotive Body Solutions as a separate business unit to focus on both in-house production and developing lightweight materials, as well as production equipment
The 2021 model SUV is company’s first global model built using ‘closed-loop’ recycling system for aluminium parts
Experts from BMW, Ford, Symbio Robotics and Cosmo Tech discussed how artificial intelligence (AI) and automation in automotive production need fast ramp-up times and adoption by employees to succeed. High-quality data and use of simulation are also key.
Audi has detailed how it is introducing closed-loop systems to its plants as part of its goal to make all its five plants carbon-neutral by 2025. This includes aluminium, wastewater and a pilot project for chemical recycling of plastics.
General Motors is moving forward with investments to equip its factories to produce electric vehicles (EVs). The Spring Hill, Tennessee plant gets a $2 billion upgrade to produce the Cadillac Lyriq and the and Detroit-Hamtramck plant will see $2.2 billion invested to produce the recently unveiled GMC Hummer EV.
With OEMs demanding vehicle-structure materials that are low in mass, crash-protective and economic to use, steel grades stay true to form
Throughout the age of the mass-produced automobile, steel has been the principal material of choice for vehicle structures. Will it maintain its dominance as carmakers pursue new mobility concepts?
Helsinki-based Outokumpu says stainless steels are ideal for lightweight, safety-critical structural parts and have put it to use in the series production of EV battery enclosures
To improve vehicle and component quality, and reduce time to market for new models, testing technologies need to be smarter and faster
Behind Morgan’s unashamedly traditional exterior there’s a company that’s also keen to embrace modern production methods and processes
Protecting battery packs is the fundamental first step when designing the body-in-white for BEVs. We talk to SSAB’s Robert Ström about the Docol EV Design Concept and platforms for new AHSS solutions
Upgrades at the home of GM’s full-size SUV production help to launch the new Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban models for 2020
As pressure mounts for OEMs to reduce costs, Simufact explains why the design and development stages are crucial in making significant savings for complex assemblies
Joining aluminium parts gives the bodyshop a number of challenges not encountered when welding steel. But a variety of weld techniques are helping OEMs to adapt and extend use of the lighter metal


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East Rutherford-based Hudson, a Dufry company with more than 1,000 stores in airports, commuter hubs, landmarks and tourist destinations across North America, on June 7 celebrated the opening of its new Hudson Nonstop store at Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW), combining the Hudson shopping experience with Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.
The opening at MDW is the second Hudson Nonstop store using Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology, following the inaugural store opening at Dallas Love Field Airport (DAL) in March 2021, which enhanced contactless airport retailing and reimagined the way Hudson exceeds travelers’ expectations.
As the largest Hudson Nonstop store to date, the 1,000-square-foot store provides travelers a glimpse into the products waiting for them inside. By inserting or tapping a credit card, travelers can enter the store, pick up their products, and quickly exit–avoiding checkout lines and making passing through the Windy City store a breeze.
“I’m incredibly proud of our team for delivering not one, but two Hudson Nonstop stores in the past six months. With the opening of Hudson Nonstop at MDW, we’re continuing to expand our digital retail footprint, bringing travelers personalized and contactless shopping environments through innovative technology,” said Brian Quinn, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Hudson. “We want to thank the Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA), Midway Partnership, and the local airport community for embracing this innovative new concept, and look forward to our continued success and partnership ahead.”
Travelers arriving at the store are greeted by a Hudson team member who is ready to assist them, answer any questions, and re-stock shelves as needed. Once a credit card has been inserted or tapped at the entry gates, travelers enter the store to find an assortment of travel basics, food selections, and keepsakes right at their fingertips.
“The safety and well-being of the traveling public is our top priority as we welcome passengers back to Chicago’s airports,” said Jamie Rhee, commissioner of the Chicago Department of Aviation. “We’re delighted to offer a streamlined, contactless concessions experience at Midway with Hudson Nonstop, which lets travelers shop without slowing down for a checkout line, thanks to Amazon’s Just Walk Out technology.”


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Kaival Brands Innovations Group Founder and CEO Nirajkumar Patel will transition to chief science and regulatory officer. Eric Mosser, the company’s current chief operating officer, will become president and remain COO. Mosser will serve as the company’s principal executive officer for purposes of its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Patel will remain on the board of directors for Kaival Brands.
The management changes follow the company’s recently announced international licensing agreement with Philip Morris Products (PMP) on June 13, 2022.
The agreement grants to PMP a license of certain intellectual property rights relating to Bidi Vapor’s premium electronic nicotine delivery system (END”) device, the Bidi Stick, in the U.S., as well as potentially newly developed devices, to permit PMP to manufacture, promote, sell and distribute such ENDS device and newly developed devices, in markets outside of the U.S.
“What Mr. Patel has accomplished, from initial concept to an international distribution agreement with Philip Morris is extraordinary,” said Mosser in a statement. “With unwavering belief and integrity, he established himself as a true visionary within the vaping category.
Mr. Patel has been both inventor and salesman, developing a product and everything that goes around it to make it successful. We have grown from a no-name brand to the No. 1-selling self-contained disposable ENDS device in the U.S based on the Nielsen retail sales data for the 52-week period ending June 4, 2022, according to a recent Goldman Sachs’ Equity Research Report.”
The transition will allow Patel to focus on developing new products and expanding the Bidi Vapor product portfolio, which is directly related to the new agreement with PMP, and allow Mosser to focus on expanding sales distribution channels and increasing the revenues and profits of Kaival Brand.
“My passion for the business is in creating, designing and delivering new products for adult tobacco users to the market,” said Patel. “Mr. Mosser understands the core values, mission and goals of the Company, and I am confident he will take Kaival Brands to new levels.”
The management changes are effective immediately, with roles and responsibilities to transfer over the coming weeks.


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Samsung Electronics this week announced the launch of an open call competition in collaboration with the Niio new media art platform.
The Samsung The Wall x Niio Art Awards “aim to discover the most inspiring digital art from around the world,” according to the announcement. Entrants will compete for a chance to be exhibited internationally on Samsung’s The Wall 4K Micro LED digital art canvas and qualify for up to $15,000 in cash prizes.
The competition will culminate in summer exhibitions at 10 showcase locations including Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
The first-prize winner of the competition will be invited to attend the unveiling event of their winning entry at Samsung’s The Wall showroom in May. All winners will be selected by a panel of renowned experts in visual art.
When assessing each submission, the judges will be “looking for artworks that display artistic and conceptual excellence, including creativity, originality and detail,” according to the announcement.
“Samsung is always exploring new ways to make premium content as impactful as possible and take users’ experience to the next level,” said Hyesung Ha, senior VP of visual display business at Samsung Electronics, in the announcement.
“This open call, in partnership with Niio Art and its global community of leading artists, celebrates the latest and greatest talent in digital art and provides the art community a meaningful platform on which its artistic creations can be showcased,” said Ha.
Samsung The Wall x Niio Art Awards
The Samsung The Wall x Niio Art Awards “will also play a major role in heralding the next generation of display experiences – all brought to life on the awe-inspiring The Wall,” Ha said in the announcement.
“In today’s connected world, artists rely on digital tools to tell their stories. We are thrilled to partner with Samsung to offer artists everywhere a chance to share their creations on the most iconic and exquisite large-scale canvas there is,” said Rob Anders, CEO of Niio. “Moreover, our plans for the synchronized, global unveiling of the winning artworks in May will change the way digital art is experienced in the world.”
Niio’s platform allows a network of more than 4,000 artists and art partners from more than 70 countries to self-publish media art. The published artwork can then be borrowed or acquired to be viewed on high-quality connected display devices anywhere in the world.
The Wall represents the latest application of Samsung’s modular MicroLED technology, which can be “tailored to any size and aspect ratio,” according to the announcement.
Click here for more information on the Samsung The Wall x Niio Art Awards.


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The government seems all prepared to give a strong push to the reforms agenda, and the latest is action on the issue of foreign direct investment in retail. CNBC-TV18’s Shereen Bhan reports that all Congress ruled states have been asked to go ahead with FDI in the retail sector.
This is the most logical way to go about bringing in FDI in multi-brand retail because it does not require Parliamentary nod or sanction. Commerce Minister Anand Sharma has been making it very clear, as have other members of this government, that they are keen to push forward with FDI in multi-brand retail. Anand Sharma has even written to all chief ministers on June 19 asking them to come on board.
The government had tried to push this reform through earlier, but it was an aborted attempt. At that time they had very clearly said that eventually the license has to be given by the state government, so whether or not the state wants to allow FDI in multi-brand retail is the state prerogative and the final authority rests with the states.
That’s exactly what the government is trying to do this time around. The government is saying that if states want FDI in multi-brand retail, join the bandwagon; if they don’t, that’s their prerogative. If the Congress ruled states do play ball and welcome FDI in multi-brand retail, it is going to be interesting to see whether other states like Gujarat etc which have been actually waiting for FDI in multi-brand retail will follow suit or not, or will this really become a Congress versus the Ppposition sort of a game. But this is certainly an interesting move.
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TALLAHASSEE --- With a sales-tax "holiday" starting this weekend, Floridians can save a few dollars on pet supplies as they stockpile other needs for the upcoming hurricane season.
The state’s two-week disaster-preparedness tax holiday will begin Saturday and, for the first time, shoppers will be able to avoid paying sales taxes on numerous types of pet supplies. The holiday was part of a broad tax package (HB 7071) that lawmakers passed in March and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed on May 6.
At the request of a Girl Scout Troop 60601 in Palm Harbor, lawmakers agreed to lift sales taxes during the holiday on pet carriers that cost $100 or less; pet beds that cost $40 or less; bags of pet food that cost $30 or less; bags of cat litter that cost $25 or less; leashes, collars and muzzles that sell for $20 or less; packages of pet-waste disposable bags that cost $15 or less; and cans of pet food that cost $2 or less.
The troop proposed including pet supplies as part of work toward what is known as a “Silver Award.”
“By adding these items to the tax holiday, we will help citizens to be ready when an emergency happens,” one member of the troop told the House Ways & Means Committee in February. They will be able to take their pets to a local shelter and have the mandatory supplies for their pets to stay there.”
The overall tax holiday, which will last through June 10, is geared toward the June 1 start of hurricane season. It has become a regular tax break for Floridians, similar to a back-to-school tax holiday held around the start of the school year.
Pet supplies aren’t the only new items included in this year’s disaster-preparedness holiday. Lawmakers added smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and carbon-monoxide detectors that cost $70 or less amid calls for residents to safely use generators. Also, people can avoid paying sales taxes on generators that cost $1,000 or less.
“We have now had more deaths over the last several years from generator carbon-monoxide poisoning than we have from storm surge itself," Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie said.
Guthrie added that the state has had “more indirect fatalities with disasters over the last several seasons than we have with direct fatalities.”
“That's obviously something that we want to make sure we tell people to be safe on, generator function and how to make sure that people are setting their generators up properly, which is not outside of a window, not inside of their closed garage,” he said.
Florida Retail Federation President Scott Shalley encouraged people to take advantage of the discount period, as inflation is at a four-decade high and experts predict an active hurricane season.
“At a time when people are feeling the crunch of inflation, this is a really great opportunity to get out and prepare for hurricane season and save a little money while doing so,” Shalley said.
Other discounted items this year include tarpaulins, waterproof sheeting and tie-down kits that sell for $100 or less; coolers and portable power banks that sell for $60 or less; portable lights that cost $40 or less; reusable ice packs that cost $20 or less; and gas tanks, portable radios, two-way radios, weather-band radios and packs of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries that cost $50 or less.


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The trade gap shrank 5.1% to $41.55 billion, the smallest deficit since December 2010, the Commerce Department said. Economists had expected it to widen to $45.0 billion.Exports jumped 3.1%, the biggest increase in more than a year. The export gain more than offset a 1.5% increase in imports that was centered on purchases of consumer goods.
The data was the latest positive sign for the US economy, which has appeared to perk up as consumers spend more freely and home construction quickens. "This was a very encouraging report as the improvement in both export and non-petroleum import activity suggest improving demand both domestically and globally," said Millan Mulraine, an economist at TD Securities in New York.Chinese demand for US products appeared to help exporters in September. China bought $8.8 billion in US goods and services, up 0.3% from a month earlier, although those figures were not seasonally adjusted.
Exports to the European Union, where a debt crisis has pushed several countries into recession, were flat.


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Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores celebrated National Dog Day by announcing that it now has more than 60 dog parks, with an additional 90 under construction.
“As more and more professional drivers take their four-legged friends with them on the road, we’ve seen great use of our dog parks,” said Lance Schmidt, Love’s director of facilities maintenance. “Dogs have become such important members of the family, so we’ve also seen strong demand from four-wheel travelers as well.”
Love’s opened its first dog park in late summer of 2018 “to extend its top-tier customer service to fury family members.”
The company decided to add a dog park to each new location and retrofit older locations due to high demand from customers. Customer engagement has also dictated design and placement of the dog parks.
Dr. Jeff Studer, from Oklahoma State University’s Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, said dog parks are essential for healthy travel.
“Providing a safe space for dogs to go to the bathroom and stretch their legs on road trips is just as important to their health as it is to ours,” Studer said. “These parks are a great amenity by Love’s because they make traveling less ‘ruff’ for dogs.”
Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores has more than 490 locations in 41 states. Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Oklahoma City, the company remains family-owned and operated and employs more than 24,000 people.
Love’s provides professional truck drivers and motorists with 24-hour access to clean and safe places to purchase gasoline, diesel fuel, fresh coffee, restaurant offerings and more. Love’s has more than 350 truck service centers, which include Speedco and on-site Love’s Truck Tire Care locations.


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We know that over 1/3 of UK farmers have started some form of farm diversification project. But there is still a huge number of farmers who could diversify, there are also many farms that could extend and develop their existing farm diversification projects. For more ideas on how to diversify check out some of our diversification planning blogs.
There is still a ‘huge untapped potential’ for farmers to diversify as figures show only a relatively small proportion of businesses have introduced customer-facing enterprises. Farm Business Survey data for England shows that 68% of farms had some sort of diversified activity in 2019/20, up from 65% in 2018/19.
However, this figure drops to below 50% when the letting of buildings for non-agricultural use – the main diversified activity that landowners tend to have – is excluded. But there still remains significant potential in the rural sector for farmers and landowners to diversify, according to land specialists Strutt & Parker.
“Diversification is not a new trend, but the rural sector has only scratched the surface of possibility when it comes to introducing diversified enterprises,” said Ed Lewis, head of Strutt & Parker’s diversification team Rural Ambitions.
“There is still huge potential for farms and estates to develop new innovative businesses alongside their core business – spanning the tourism, hospitality, food processing, leisure, wellbeing and retail sectors.
“Of course, diversification will not be an option for everyone, but at a time of huge change within the rural sector it could prove to be an important source of additional income for those that can.”
What these diversified businesses might be will vary according to a farm’s asset base, the farmer’s aspirations, the location and the unmet needs within local communities, he said.
For example, the pandemic has highlighted that people who don’t have green spaces are desperate to access it, presenting opportunities for farmers to use their land as a vehicle to draw customers in and support the sales of other products and services. Similarly, it is anticipated that after Covid-19 there is likely to be a much greater focus on public health, which could be another opportunity for landowners, given research proves that access to the countryside is beneficial for wellbeing.
Alternatively, while people have generally embraced the shift to homeworking, the novelty has started to wear off for some who would prefer a mix of working from an office and remotely, meaning there could be a growing appetite for shared office space or serviced offices in rural locations.
And the environmental agenda is also opening the door to new customer-facing businesses – with consumers increasingly seeking guilt-free experiences with a low carbon-footprint.
“The good news for farms and estates is that they have plenty to offer that society wants and the key to the future is working out how best to harness that demand,” Mr Lewis said.
For those farmers with the right entrepreneurial skills, diversification could involve the launch of their own in-hand businesses – but this is not the only option, he added. “For many landowners it could be better to invite others who share their values to work alongside them as trading partners or tenants. This can help people avoid the pitfall of spreading themselves too thinly across their core business.”
Article taken from Farming UK


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Posts Tagged ‘bugatti’
The hypercar race war to break the 300mph barrier is over. In a six month collective effort between Bugatti engineers, Dallara and Michelin the Bugatti Chiron has been announced as the first manufacturer vehicle to break the 300-mile-an-hour barrier.
The highlights of the menacing Chiron created features a long tail which enhances overall aerodynamics and lowers drag, a boost to 1578 horsepower and upgraded Michelin tires to handle the increased road stress. Measuring 9.84 inches longer than a stock Chiron, stripped out interior and lower ride height for drag purposes the upgraded Chiron was in true race mode to battle the task at Ehra-Lessien test track, Germany.
Driven by the well accoladed Andy Wallace the Bugatti was in good hands, despite being described as, “Being quite difficult to do” by the driver himself. “Now Bugatti was the first to exceed the 300-mile-per-hour mark. An incredible achievement that shows what the men and women of Bugatti are capable of. But this was the last time for us. Bugatti was the first to exceed 300-mile-per-hour – its name will go down in the history books and it will stay that way forever” added Stephan Winkelmann, President of Bugatti.
Photo’s by Robert Grubbs and Jason Salazar
For the last two months, we at O’Gara La Jolla have been trying to solve a problem. How do you top the Inaugural San Diego GT? We unveiled 5 hypercars in dramatic fashion and had a strong showing of supercars and other exotics. Well, what you see below is how we maintained San Diego GT’s reputation as being one of Southern California’s premier Cars and Coffee events.
Earlier this year, the O’Gara Beverly Hills team created Sunset GT and set the gold standard for what a cars and coffee event could be. They brought out the most exclusive cars and did it on a scale that no one had ever seen. Month after month of successful shows gave us here in San Diego the confidence that we could do the same for our car community. So last Saturday, after weeks and weeks of planning, O’Gara Coach La Jolla held its first ever San Diego GT, and it went better than any of us ever imagined.
Monterey Car Week | O’Gara Recap
Monterey Car Week, the largest and most prestigious car gathering in the world. The series of events held during that week brings together some of the most elusive and expensive automobiles in history. Mind boggling displays of automotive wealth and ingenuity are commonplace not only at exclusive events like Quail, but in the streets of Monterey and Carmel. You don’t need a billionaires bank account to see and appreciate the amazing cars that converge on this quiet beach town. That is what makes this week so special. It brings together car enthusiasts of all backgrounds. Below are highlights from the events and private showings held last week.


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Winning sponsors may be tough sell
Tiger Woods’s public apology a good start, analysts say, but golf is key to advertising
Tiger Woods’s public apology yesterday may go a long way toward mending his relationship with family and fans, but it’s not likely to win back sponsors right away, say some Boston media and sports analysts.
Basketball star Kobe Bryant and baseball player Alex Rodriguez had their share of personal struggles unfold publicly, but they continued excelling in their given sport. Missing in Woods’s apology during yesterday’s press conference was the date of his return to golf and that, analysts say, is a key element in rebuilding his image.
“He built his brand of performance on the golf course,’’ said Stephen A. Greyser, a Harvard Business School professor who studies brand marketing and sports management. “The only chance he has to rebuild it will be on the golf course.’’
Still, Woods may be moving in the right direction by admitting his flaws, media observers say. “He is sending a strong message that he is getting his life back in order and once that is done, golf will follow,’’ said Geoff Klapisch, an advertising professor at Boston University.
Gillette, which cast Woods in 2007 as the centerpiece of its ad campaign “Global Champions,’’ said that it will continue to limit Woods’s role in its marketing. Gillette was the first major sponsor to distance itself from Woods in December after he acknowledged that he had extramarital affairs and that he was taking a break from golf to focus on his family.
But the Boston personal care products company has not severed all ties and Woods remains part of Gillette’s roster of pitchmen. “We have not made any changes to our advertising plans,’’ said Mike Norton, a spokesman for Gillette, a unit of Procter & Gamble Co.
During the press conference, Woods singled out Accenture, the global management consulting firm and one of his biggest sponsors for six years until the company dropped him in December. The press conference took place during Accenture’s Match Play Tournament in Tucson, the first big golf tournament of the year.
Last month, Accenture replaced Woods in its ads with animals such as elephants to convey a high-performance message. An Accenture spokesman said the company is not currently considering Woods for future campaigns.
“He was a very effective representative for us in our advertising and the perfect metaphor for high-performance delivered,’’ said Fred Hawrysh, a spokesman for Accenture.
“As things happened late last year, what we found was that the advertising was no longer effective.’’
Woods also lost another mega endorser, AT&T Inc., which ended its relationship with him last month. But several sponsors have stood by him, including Nike and video game company EA Sports.
“He remains one of the greatest athletes in history, and as a longstanding partner, we look forward to seeing Tiger back on the golf course when the time is right for him and his family,’’ said EA Sports president Peter Moore in an e-mail.
It may be too early to tell what effect Woods’s remarks yesterday may have on his future market value.
One study, released by market research company NPD Group Inc. on Thursday before the public apology, found that most consumers interviewed between Dec. 16 and Jan. 5, said they wouldn’t change their buying habits toward products that Woods endorses because of his personal issues.
Woods’s Q Score, which represents a celebrity’s likeability among US consumers, is expected to drop from a 28 to a 20 or even lower, said Henry Schafer, vice president of Marketing Evaluations Inc., which conducts the ratings. On average, a sports celebrity has a 15 rating.
“The remorse and apologies that he communicated,’’ Schafer said in an e-mail, “may have tempered a more drastic decline in his appeal, but his refusal to take questions about it added some fuel to his fire.’’
Johnny Diaz can be reached at email@example.com.


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JANUARY 10 2008 23:48h
Construction of the first fashion island in the world is planned, which will hold all activities linked with fashion and beauty.
United Arab Emirates cannot stop turning the sea into land. After three demanding projects, the Dubai Towers, Burja al-Arab and the Palm resorts, construction of an island which will absolutely be dedicated to fashion is being planned! Fashion wonder or human perversion? Dubai Infinity Holdings has announced plans to develop the first fashion island in the world – Isla Moda.
The multimillion island, which will be located on an artificial archipelago called “The world”, will have fashion-themed residential villas, haute couture boutiques and luxury medical facilities.
Fashion experts will be present on Isla Moda, willing o provide advice on clothing, fragrances and fashion make-overs. Residents will be allowed to create their own living environment with hand-made furniture, art and technology.
World`s top designers from every continent should participate in the island`s development with the aim of improving tourism by attracting the world`s elite.
Residents will be granted VVIP access (Very, Very Important Person). Fashion shows will be held and beauty products launched on the fashion island. Designers will also be offered their own studios to work in during the holidays. First villa complex, called “the winter collection” will be on sale in the final quarter of 2008.


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Fritan, one of the leading suppliers of hardware in the USA, has launched its redesigned website. The new website is now mobile-friendly with an intuitive layout for devices of all sizes.
Fritan Technology, LLC, one of the leading suppliers of Door Hinges, Hinge Screws, Fringe ScrewsTM and various other types of hardware, has announced the launch of its recently revamped website. According to a statement from the company, the updated site will bring a whole host of features that will make finding and buying hardware easier and faster across a wide range of devices. The statement said so too “The company works hard to make it easier for everyone to find what they are looking for in the shortest amount of time.”
The number of websites sold Screws for door hinges, or door hinges number in the several hundred. However, many websites have one thing in common: they are not mobile-friendly, making it difficult to find the right hardware for each project. Even the most experienced contractors refrain from buying online as the process is tedious and flawed. Luckily for many people who rely on Fritan, the updated website makes finding and buying all types of screws and hinges much easier than before.
Readers can view Fritan’s redesigned and heavily optimized website at https://www.fritantechnology.com.
“One of the things that loyal shoppers and a lot of people who were new to our business told us was that they couldn’t order online. In our opinion, many found the ordering process counter-intuitive and as a result were unable to make the purchases they wanted. Although we’ve rolled out certain updates over the years to make the checkout process more intuitive, it hasn’t helped much. After all, we try to reach more people than just general contractors. So we decided to redesign our website.” Said the CEO of Fritan Technology, LLC.
He added, “The redesigned website took us several months and a lot of effort. We wanted a website that would be easy to browse and find products. That’s why, after much deliberation and consultation with the design team, we finalized the design you see. The feedback we receive is also very positive.”
The redesigned website neatly categorizes all product types, making it easier to find what you’re looking for without wasting time. Also, it’s a lot easier to figure out how much certain items will cost because the prices for everything are listed on the site. The whole process is now faster and easier, which should serve as a template for other companies in the industry.
While Fritan Technology, LLC While yet to detail how much the new design has improved online sales, company executives believe it will undoubtedly have a positive impact over the coming months.
About Fritan Technology, LLC
Fritan Technology, LLC is a product development and engineering company specializing in the design and development of products for the home renovation and home repair industries. The company is based in Akron, Ohio, and has been developing products since 2009. Over the years, the company has earned a reputation for developing high-quality, innovative products that make life easier and more beautiful. The company’s products hope to bridge the gap between tech-savvy installers and ordinary people looking to do home repairs by offering information and tools to complete some of the most common home repair jobs. The Company works with customers to ensure satisfaction across its entire line of products including Screws, Door Hinges and Door Hinge Bolts.
Fritan Technology, LLC
Telephone: (330) 86-4781
E-mail: [email protected]
This content is published on behalf of the above source. Please contact them directly with any concerns related to the above.


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The press releases on this website are provided for historical reference purposes only.
Please note that certain information may have changed since the date of release.
February 1, 2014
TOKYO, February 1, 2014 -- A press report on February 1, 2014 stated that Sony Corporation ("Sony") is discussing with Lenovo Group ("Lenovo") the possible establishment of a joint venture for the PC business. As Sony has announced previously, Sony continues to address various options for the PC business, but the press report on a possible PC business alliance between Sony and Lenovo is inaccurate.


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SCOOP: Skoda to retain the Laura brand along with Octavia
Skoda India will unveil the new Octavia today and its launch is slated sometime around September. The Laura brand was introduced in the early 2000s as the old-generation Octavia was selling well and Skoda wanted to cash in on the sales of the old and the new generation. Since then, the Laura and Octavia brands were sold simultaneously until the Bharat Stage IV norms were implemented in 2010, and the Octavia had to be discontinued.
Skoda will retain the brand Laura, however they will launch a new product at a later stage, which will sit between the new Ocatavia and Rapid. But we don't know how strong will the D sedan segment be, as manufacturers are today focusing on introducing SUVs in that segment. Renault, Mahindra, Tata already have products in that price bracket and soon we will see Nissan and even Honda enter into this growing SUV segment.
Skoda has been quiet for a while when it comes to new products and the last brand new offering was the Rapid. Now, the company will introduce the Octavia and facelift for the Superb is also in the pipeline. The other change will be the new Skoda logo that will be seen on the new Octavia and other products like Rapid, Superb and Yeti too. The Fabia was also pulled out of production sometime ago. We shall soon, update with the Skoda Octavia unveiling which happens today in the evening.
Read More on : Skoda New Laura expert review
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While government figures showed factory-output gains for the last quarter, implying growth for the Chinese economy, the China Beige Book would argue otherwise. The Chinese Beige Book is an independent source of Chinese economy analysis produced on a quarterly basis. This quarter’s publication describes slowing expansion nationwide and fewer companies borrowing money than usual. The average interest rate on loans fell to 6.63%, a 47 basis point drop. Fewer manufacturers and transportation industry groups reported gains.
The Beige Book does not include GDP estimates, but these indications of sluggish growth lend support to the concerns over a growing financial crisis of sorts on the horizon for China. S&P reports that China’s growth rate will range between 7% and 7.5% in the coming months of 2013, but if things continue to slow and growth doesn’t reach expectations, things could get very hairy; not only for China, but the rest of the world’s economy.
Yet, Bloomberg Columnist Jim O’Neill says things are under control, and that China’s government is deliberately slowing the economy. I believe we will see this unfold in the next year, especially as any effects from the United States’ inevitable tapering ripples through the world economy, potentially pushing China closer to their own crisis.
Article link: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-24/china-beige-book-shows-slowdown-opposite-official-data.html


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A Washington frozen food processor has issued a recall for 15 frozen vegetable products because the items could potentially be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, according to FDA.
No illnesses associated with the products have been reported, but CRF Frozen Foods says it is recalling the products as a precaution. The Listeria was discovered through routine testing by state health officials in Ohio. Listeria monocytogenes was found to be present in one lot of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) organic petite green peas and one lot of IQF organic white sweet cut corn.
Recalled items—primarily peas, sweet corn and mixed vegetables—were sold in plastic bags distributed between Sept. 13, 2015 and March 16 in the following states, and may be redistributed in other states nationwide: AL, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, LA, MD, MA, MI, MN, MO, MT, NV, NH, NJ, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, TN, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan of Canada.
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Papa Murphy’s Take ‘n’ Bake Pizza has announced the return of its Hog Heaven Pizza through Dec. 25, according to a press release.
The pizza features Canadian bacon, crispy bacon and ground Italian sausage.
“We’re excited to bring back the Hog Heaven Pizza, as it’s the perfect time of year to warm up your ovens for a hearty meal,” Kim McBee, SVP of guest experience and brand marketing for Papa Murphy’s, said in the press release. “We pride ourselves in creating innovative ways to bring tasty pizza to our fans. The Hog Heaven Pizza creates a mixture of sweet, savory and crispy greatness with each bite.”


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Google this week launched a new cookie program, aimed at appeasing privacy advocates. The search giant changed the cookies expiration date from 2038 to two years after the consumers last visit to Google.
At first glance, it sounded like an accommodating change. In reality, its far from clear whether it truly gives privacy groups anything. First, giving up the 2038 date was easy, given that its highly likely the Google cookie of today (or of a few years ago) will be entirely irrelevant to the Web user of 2038.
Much more importantly, though, is the practical impact today. That two-year clock doesnt start ticking until the individuals last visit to Google. If they search for anything or follow a link from anywhere that happens to land on Google, the clock starts up again. The user doesnt have to visit Google once a week or once a month. If they visit just once within two years, theyre back to square one.
Peter Fleischer, Googles Global Privacy Counsel (guess thats like being the environmental advocate reporting to James Watt—who served as Secretary of the Interior under Ronald Reagan—or perhaps being the Public Librarian Delegate to Amazon.com), pointed out that users should always remove their own cookies themselves.
“We were mindful of the fact that users can always go to their browsers to change their cookie management settings, e.g. to delete all cookies, delete specific cookies, or accept certain types of cookies (like first-party cookies) but reject others (like third-party cookies),” Fleischer said in a Google blog post.
Of course, very few consumers bother to deal with cookie cleanup.
Also, in the world of privacy problems and Google, the expiration of a cookie is a minor matter. Any cookie data older than two years is probably worthless to an advertiser anyway—another reason this wasnt an especially generous concession—and there are many more significant privacy threats.


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Fans of Breakfast at Tiffany’s can finally make their dreams come true and enjoy a luxurious meal at Tiffany’s. Tiffany & Co. opened the doors to its new eatery, The Blue Box Café, for its customers on Friday, November 10, on the fourth floor of its flagship store in New York City’s Fifth Avenue.
The cafe is the company’s first leap into the retail dining concept, and it will also house their new luxury Home & Accessories collection. The iconic Tiffany Blue can be found all throughout the space and around the decor in the café.
The Blue Box Café will serve American classics, for breakfast and lunch, and will also offer tea service. The breakfast menu items include truffle eggs and avocado toast, and for lunch, customers can enjoy a Charles Lewis Tiffany club chicken sandwich and the Fifth Avenue salad, which is made with lobster and avocado.
The simple menu will change each season, and the company says the dishes will be prepared fresh with regionally sourced ingredients.
“Both the café and redesign of the Home & Accessories floor reflect a modern luxury experience,” Chief Artistic Officer at Tiffany & Co., Reed Krakoff, said in a press release on Wednesday, November 8. “The space is experimental and experiential – a window into the new Tiffany.”
The Blue Box Café will be open during regular store hours Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.


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Less than three weeks after shuttering Discord's Groovy music bot, Google-owned YouTube is taking down another popular player.
Rythm, which boasts more than 560 million Discord users, is complying with Google's cease-and-desist order and will stop working at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021.
"We have received a notice from YouTube asking us to shut down our service," the team wrote in an announcement. "Since we use YouTube as our main source of music, that means our current service will shut down entirely."
Launched in 2016 as a "small project" by founder ImBursting, Rythm has grown into the largest bot on Discord, currently installed on more than 20 million servers, as reported by The Verge.
"Even though our current service is shutting down, we're not going anywhere," the website said, promising that "this isn't the end" for Rythm. "We've spent the last year working on something brand new in the music space that will revolutionize how we all listen to music." They expect to return next spring with a new project.
Premium subscribers who have not used a "significant amount" of their term will receive a refund, expected in one to two months, according to the website's FAQ. The bot, meanwhile, will continue to operate on Discord, housing the group's newsletter and providing updates about community events, merchandise, etc.
"We expect in the next few weeks, most known music bots will end up shutting down just like a few already have," the FAQ said, citing the recent demise of Groovy. The music aggregator let users gather for online listening parties, streaming sound from major services like YouTube, Spotify, Soundcloud, Deezer, Apple Music, and Tidal.
Since most of these platforms don't allow direct audio playback, though, Groovy input metadata into YouTube to find the closest equivalent to an intended track. The process, also used by similar Discord music bots like Octave, Hydra, and Chip, doesn't sit well with Google, which claims the software runs afoul of YouTube's terms of service.
"We wanted to thank everyone for choosing Rythm and believing in us for all these years," the website said. "We know your experience on Discord won't be the same without Rythm, but stay tuned—this isn't the end."
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Japan’s transport ministry said that in affected vehicles, the wire harness which connects to the hybrid power control unit can come into contact with the covering at the connection point.
If dust builds up on the wire harness or cover, the insulation on the wires could wear down due to vehicle vibrations, increasing the risk of short circuit and/or fire.
The recall affects Toyota vehicles manufactured in Japan from June 2015 to May 2018, and includes the plug-in version of the Prius and C-HR compact crossover SUV sold in Japan, Europe and Australia. Only the Prius model is affected in the U.S., where around 192,000 vehicles will be recalled.
The issue has been linked to at least one incident of a short-circuiting in Japan which produced smoke from the vehicle, Toyota said.